Re: Another reading article

: @@It is all very well to blame traffic jams, the cost of petrol and the quick pace of modern life, but manners on the roads are becoming horrible. Everybody knows that the nicest men become monsters behind the wheel. It is all very well, again, to have a tiger in the tank, but to have one in the driver's seat is another matter altogether. You might tolerate the odd roadhog, the rude and inconsiderate driver, but nowadays the well mannered motorist is the exception to the rule. Perhaps the situation calls for agBe Kind to Other Drivershcampaign, otherwise it may get completely out of hand.
: (1.Could you explain the two gIt is all very wellh sentences?
: 2.And for the gYou might toleratec exception to the rule.h sentence, is the writer using subjunctive mood when saying gYou mightch?
: 3.And how to explain gthe well mannered motorist is the exception to the ruleh? What is the gruleh here?)
: @@Road politeness is not only good manners, but good sense too. It takes the most coolheaded and good tempered of drivers to resist the temptation to revenge when subjected to uncivilized behavior. On the other hand, a little politeness goes a long way towards relieving the tensions of motoring. A friendly nod or a wave of acknowledgment in response to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of goodwill and tolerance so necessary in modern traffic conditions. But such acknowledgments of politeness are all too rare today. Many drivers nowadays donft even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it.
: (4.for the gOn the other handch sentence, which is the first ghandh?)
: @@However, misplaced politeness can also be dangerous. Typical examples are the driver who brakes violently to allow a car to emerge from a side street at some hazard to following traffic, when a few seconds later the road would be clear anyway; or the man who waves a child across a zebra crossing into the path of oncoming vehicles that may be unable to stop in time. The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever and whenever they care to. It always amazes me that the highways are not covered with the dead bodies of these grannies.
: (5.hallow a carc to following traffich, I think itfs wrong, which should be gto follow traffich.
: 6.hwhen a few seconds later the road would be clear anywayh, could you rephrase this sentence in plain English?)
: @@A veteran driver, whose manners are faultless, told me it would help if motorists learnt to filter correctly into traffic streams one at a time without causing the total blockages that give rise to bad temper. Unfortunately, modern motorists canft even learn to drive, let alone master the subtler aspects of roadsmanship. Years ago the experts warned us that the car ownership explosion would demand a lot more give and take from all road users. It is high time for all of us to take this message to heart.

: (A troublesome case, but still many thanks to you in advance!)

It is all very well to blame traffic jams, the cost of petrol and the quick pace of modern life, but manners on the roads are becoming horrible. Everybody knows that the nicest men become monsters behind the wheel. It is all very well, again, to have a tiger in the tank, but to have one in the driver's seat is another matter altogether. You might tolerate the odd roadhog, the rude and inconsiderate driver, but nowadays the well mannered motorist is the exception to the rule. Perhaps the situation calls for a gBe Kind to Other Drivershcampaign, otherwise it may get completely out of hand.

(1.Could you explain the two gIt is all very wellh sentences?

Not sure if I can explain this one. gIt is all very wellh is a snippy sarcastic way of saying, gThatfs all very well (acceptable) for some people but not for me.h

2.And for the gYou might toleratec exception to the rule.h sentence, is the writer using subjunctive mood when saying gYou mightch?

I donft know.

3.And how to explain gthe well mannered motorist is the exception to the ruleh? What is the gruleh here?)

The gruleh or usual circumstance is that drivers are rude. The well-mannered motorist is an exception, an unusual case.

@@Road politeness is not only good manners, but good sense too. It takes the most coolheaded and good tempered of drivers to resist the temptation to revenge when subjected to uncivilized behavior. On the other hand, a little politeness goes a long way towards relieving the tensions of motoring. A friendly nod or a wave of acknowledgment in response to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of goodwill and tolerance so necessary in modern traffic conditions. But such acknowledgments of politeness are all too rare today. Many drivers nowadays donft even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it.

(4.for the gOn the other handch sentence, which is the first ghandh?)

On one hand, you want to vent your anger by blowing your horn, etc. On the other hand, it is more to your advantage to be polite thus creating an "atmosphere of good will and tolerance."

@@However, misplaced politeness can also be dangerous. Typical examples are the driver who brakes violently to allow a car to emerge from a side street at some hazard to following traffic, when a few seconds later the road would be clear anyway; or the man who waves a child across a zebra crossing into the path of oncoming vehicles that may be unable to stop in time. The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever and whenever they care to. It always amazes me that the highways are not covered with the dead bodies of these grannies.

(5.hallow a carc to following traffich, I think itfs wrong, which should be gto follow traffich.

If you brake suddenly, the traffic behind you (following traffic) might slam into the back of your car.

6.hwhen a few seconds later the road would be clear anywayh, could you rephrase this sentence in plain English?)

If there are only a few cars on the roadway, it is pointless to stop and let a vehicle on a side street onto the main road. The light traffic would have passed by quickly (in a few seconds) and the car on the side road would have been able to emerge then.

@@A veteran driver, whose manners are faultless, told me it would help if motorists learnt to filter correctly into traffic streams one at a time without causing the total blockages that give rise to bad temper. Unfortunately, modern motorists canft even learn to drive, let alone master the subtler aspects of roadsmanship. Years ago the experts warned us that the car ownership explosion would demand a lot more give and take from all road users. It is high time for all of us to take this message to heart.